Jon Gallagher (born 23 February 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Austin FC. He can also play as a right-back or midfielder.

Jon Gallagher
Gallagher before the 2023 MLS All-Star Game
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-02-23) 23 February 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Dundalk, Ireland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Right-back, midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
Austin FC
Number 17
Youth career
2008–2010 Beachside SC
2010–2012 Home United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 84 (39)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Atlanta United 16 (4)
2018–2019 Atlanta United 2 38 (7)
2019–2020Aberdeen (loan) 22 (1)
2021– Austin FC 125 (12)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:49, 22 October 2024 (UTC)

Early life

edit

Born in Dundalk in Ireland, growing up Gallagher also spent time in the United States, Jamaica, Singapore and England. While moving around, Gallagher played with Beachside SC in Connecticut, Home United in Singapore and England Schoolboys in England. He also spent time on trial with the likes of Juventus, Marseille, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers.[1]

Gallagher played four years of college soccer at the University of Notre Dame between 2014 and 2017. In his senior year, he was named USC Second Team All-American, USC First Team All-South Region, First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, and Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament Team.[2] Overall, Gallagher scored 39 goals and tallied 15 assists in 84 appearances for the Fighting Irish.

Club career

edit

Ahead of the 2018 Major League Soccer season, it was announced that Gallagher had signed a contract with Major League Soccer, making him eligible for the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.[3] On 19 January 2018, Gallagher was selected 14th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta United.[4]

Gallagher made his professional debut on 24 March 2018, scoring two goals for Atlanta's United Soccer League affiliate side in a 3–1 win over New York Red Bulls II.[5]

Gallagher was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen from Atlanta United on 22 June 2019.[6] The loan was initially for the remainder of the 2019 MLS season,[7] but was subsequently extended to the end of the 2019–20 Scottish season.[8] He played in 31 matches in all competitions for Aberdeen and scored his only goal against Rangers in a 2–2 draw on 4 December 2019.

Gallagher returned to play with the Atlanta United first team in the middle of the 2020 Season, where he made 16 total appearances and registered 4 goals.[9]

Gallagher was traded to Austin FC in exchange for $225,000 in General Allocation Money on 13 December 2020, ahead of Austin's inaugural season in 2021.[10]

Gallagher scored the first ever goal at Q2 Stadium for Austin FC on 1 July 2021.[11] In 2022, he transitioned from winger to right-back and became a first team regular in this position.[12] He scored his only goal of 2022 in a 4–3 comeback win against Sporting Kansas City.[13]

In early 2023, Gallagher signed a four-year deal with Austin FC, keeping him at the club through 2026.[14] He scored the team's second goal of the 2023 season in a 3–2 loss against St. Louis, coming off the bench.[15] On 27 June 2023, it was announced that Gallgher was being recognized for his strong season, which include 5 goals and 3 assists, by being named to the 2023 MLS All-Star Game.[16]

Career statistics

edit
As of 19 October 2024[17][18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlanta United 2 2018[19] USL Championship 30 6 30 6
2019[20] USL Championship 8 1 8 1
Total 38 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 7
Atlanta United 2019[21] Major League Soccer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020[22] Major League Soccer 16 4 0 0 16 4
Total 16 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 4
Aberdeen (loan) 2019–20 Scottish Premiership 22 1 1 0 6 0 2[c] 0 31 1
Austin FC 2021[23] Major League Soccer 27 3 27 3
2022[24] Major League Soccer 32 1 1 0 3[d] 0 36 1
2023[25] Major League Soccer 34 5 2 0 2 0 2[e] 0 39 5
2024[26] Major League Soccer 32 3 3[e] 0 35 3
Total 125 12 3 0 2 0 8 0 139 12
Career total 201 24 4 0 8 0 10 0 223 24
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Scottish Cup and U.S. Open Cup
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League and CONCACAF Champions League
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in Scottish League Cup
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  5. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup

Honours

edit

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ "MLS Player Combine: Jon Gallagher's Irish roots helped shape soccer career | Pro Soccer USA". prosoccerusa.com.
  2. ^ "Jon Gallagher Bio :: Notre Dame Men's Soccer :: UND.COM :: The Official Site of ND Athletics". Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  3. ^ "2018 MLS SuperDraft: Ranking the top 23 pre-combine prospects". www.socceramerica.com. 11 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Atlanta United selects Jon Gallagher, Oliver Shannon, Gordon Wild in MLS SuperDraft | Atlanta United FC". 20 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Atlanta United 2 vs New York Red Bulls II". uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Jon Gallagher: Atlanta United right-back joins Aberdeen on loan". BBC Sport. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Atlanta United loans Jon Gallagher to Aberdeen FC". Atlanta United FC. Atlanta United Communications. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Jon Gallagher extends Aberdeen loan for rest of season". BBC Sport. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Match Log for Jon Gallagher - Atlanta United FC".
  10. ^ "Atlanta acquires up to $225,000 in General Allocation Money | Atlanta United FC".
  11. ^ "Gallagher nets Q2′s first MLS goal, Austin tops Timbers 4-1". www.SpectrumLocalNews.com. Associated Press. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  12. ^ Gordan, Colby (3 July 2022). "A positional change of scenery is paying off for Austin FC defender Jon Gallagher". The Austin American Statesman. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  13. ^ Gordan, Colby (14 August 2022). "Sebastián Driussi seals comeback win over Kansas City for Austin FC with stoppage-time goal". The Austin American Statesman. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  14. ^ Gordan, Colby (29 January 2023). "Austin FC's Jon Gallagher enters 2023 season in a happy place with club, future". The Austin American Statesman. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  15. ^ "St. Louis City wins inaugural match, beats Austin 3-2". Associated Press. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  16. ^ "2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster". www.MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  17. ^ Jon Gallagher at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  18. ^ Jon Gallagher at Major League Soccer
  19. ^ "2018 Stats". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  20. ^ "2019 Stats". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  21. ^ "2019 Stats". ATLUtd.com. Atlanta United. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  22. ^ "2020 stats". ATLUtd.com. Atlanta United. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  23. ^ "2021 stats". AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  24. ^ "2022 stats". AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  25. ^ "2023 stats". AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  26. ^ "2024 stats". AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  27. ^ "2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster". Major League Soccer. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
edit